On a Canon T2i I had been using just the 50mm f/1.8 with reasonably good results, but was limited by the lack of a zoom. I am just the average dad taking pictures...Read complete review

On a Canon T2i I had been using just the 50mm f/1.8 with reasonably good results, but was limited by the lack of a zoom. I am just the average dad taking pictures of my kids running around in daylight or at various activites in-doors at school events. They don't pose or stay still. I was looking for a light-weight all-purpose "inexpensive" lens useful both indoors and outdoors and for action.

As the pros will tell you such a lens does not exist or is unaffordable.

This Canon 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 lens has many of the features on my list and works pretty well as a walk-around lens. While it is a hefty 500g lens, with the T2i body it does not feel heavy when carried around walking all day. Zoom creep did not occur if I left the lens at 28mm when walking.

The lens appears well-constructed with a smooth movement of the zoom and quiet auto-focus. I purchased the refurbished lens from B&H for a price lower than that on Canon's website. It arrived in a Canon box with a 90-day warranty from Canon.

I previously had a Canon 18-55 mm lens on an Xti and had not taken many pictures at angles less then 30mm. The range of this lens is ideal for my needs. The image stabilization-IS while probably of a previous generation is a new and welcome addition for me. More shots at slower shutter speeds are usable. I can get decent pictures in good light outdoors and indoors and by using a flash with low light indoors. At low light however, I still prefer the 50 mm f/1.8 as I am not fond of using the flash.

I would recommend this lens for anyone looking for a general purpose lens.

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

A Decent Workhorse Lens

I like this lens. I don't really really like it, or love it, or dislike it, or hate it. I just sort of like it. It's nice and sturdy feeling, and...Read complete review

I like this lens. I don't really really like it, or love it, or dislike it, or hate it. I just sort of like it. It's nice and sturdy feeling, and has a great zoom range on my crop sensor which serves as a sweet mid-range telephoto (with the 1.6 crop factor I get a nice 45-205mm range).

It doesn't do great in low light but hey, how many zooms in this price range actually do? If you buy a lens that specifies it can't open up past 5.6 on the long end then you are made fully aware that it won't shine when the sun sets. I knew this going in, but I accepted it for the combination of price, zoom range, and the fact that I can use it on a full frame if need be. Lens creep is terrible, but for less than two bucks I got a pack of latex elastic hair bands and I slip one in the barrel crack and that takes care of that.

The really bad thing on this lens is how much dirt and dust it lets into the deep internals; you can look through the front of the lens and see the sandbox sitting there under the glass that you cannot access to clean.

It does its job ok, and image quality is an upgrade from the kit lenses but not by a huge longshot. I don't regret buying it but in retrospect wish I'd saved up another couple of hundreds for something a little better.

I got this lens with a 7D package for one-third what the retail price is so the value to lens for me was awesome.yeah it does have lens creep but it is only a minor thing. good sharpness and a good all around lens. good color response and decent bokeh.great walking around lens.

great crisp lens with fast autofcus! the range covers what i need it to. this was the kit lens that came paired with my canon 7D. only complant is that when held upside down the lens tends to slide out by itself. but from my research and reading other reviews that it is a common problem with its design but in no way affects the picturre and performance of the lens!

I have used this lens for about 10 years and it finally failed with mechanical issues. After researching, I decided to replace it with the same lens since I find it so versatile and easy to use to get great photos. If it lasts another 10 years, I feel I got my money worth. I am by no means a professional, but I am constantly being called up to shoot family photos as this lens has lived up to giving this novice years of service.

I am now on my 3rd lens like this because they all came with my camera kits. I use this lens for everything from portraiture to photographing quarter midget car races. It works well and is adaptable to many situations.

Bought as an inexpensive walkaround lens for my aging 20D as I didn't have anything that covered this range.

I read a lot about it over the years and knew it was a capable if unspectacular lens, but on receipt I have to say I've been thrilled with it. It's surprisingly usable in Low Light thanks to IS; AF (via USM) is accurate and quick.

Lens creep Is a minor annoyance, but my copy is a lot of bang for the buck.

I knew it from the reviews but... pretty significant lens creep out of the box. Reasonable sharpness for the price. Just needed an inexpensive walk around lens and a lens I can take on the river without the worry of ruining the "L" lens. It will work but come on Canon, get the creep out!

I just purchased this lense a month ago. Took it on a photo shoot and the pics turned out great but cause I like to keep my camera on a tri pod while walking the lense would creep all the way out while pointed downwards. I've exchanged this lense 3 times now with the same problem. If it wasn't for the lense creep I would love this lens for every day use.

I like this lens it is great for its price range and a step up from the kit lens, it is a replacement for the same model that I had dropped and broke. Don't forget to buy insurance, I bought it this time, but the last one came out of my pocket.

Okay, obviously, there are other daily use lens, but in this price range, you will not find better than this product. I been using for few weeks, took few hundreds of photos, I truly love this lens. IS works great, Manual focus easy and autofocus fast enough.If you are in budget and looking for daily use lens, this is the best EF lens you can find.

Very good affordable lens.No need to buy expensive 24-105 f4L if you use it on a full frame sensor for daily use.This lens gives good contrast,saturation.The sharpness is also higly satisfaying.Its focusing speed is fast even with crop sensor machine.Only 2 problems i have found;the zoom side creeps when the camera's face down. 2nd problem is when recording the video you should switch off IS mode in order to prevent lens focusing noises.